Loader for skip hoist buckets



July 19, 1932. w, HA E 1,868,319

LOADER FOR SKIP HOIST BUGKETS Filed Sept. 9, 1929 s Sh'eets$heet 1 July 19, 1932. w. E. HALE 1,863,319

- LOADER FOR SKIP HOIST BUCKETS Filed Sept. 9, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 July 19, 1932. w. E. HALE l.868,319

LOADER FOR SKIP HOIST BUCKETS Filed Sept. 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ewe/Mar IIIIHIIIP Patented July 19, 1932 srarss WILLIAM E. HALE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WEBSTER IBIANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF OHIO LOADER FOR SKIP HOIST BUCKETS Application filed September 9, 1929. Serial No. 391,285.

This invention relates generally to improvements in loaders for skip hoist buckets for handling granular materials from a hopper to an elevated dumping point and has 5, particular reference to a certain arrangement and details of construction tending to increase the general etliciency and serviceability of apparatus of thischaracter.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel loader comprising a fixed discharge chute at the discharge end of a hopper provided with a gate and a pivotally mounted receptacle chute having an extension adapted to bridge the space between the discharge chute and the skip hoist bucket.

Another object of the invention is found in the provision of means for operating the discharge chute gate operatively interconnected with the pivotally mounted chute in such manner that when the pivoted chute is moved by the bucket into discharge position the gate is moved into open position, and when the pivoted chute is moved by the bucket into raised or closed position, the stationary chute gate is positively moved into closed position.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of receptacle for a gate controlled chute, which receptacle is arranged to receive and retain the material lying on the receptacle extension upon the upward movement of the bucket, thus preventing overcharging of the bucket and spill over the top of the bucket.

A further object of the invention finds embodiment in the arrangement of the receptacle at the rear end of the pivoted chute relatively to its pivot and the lower end of the stationary chute bottom which positively overcomes the disadvantage of any escape or leak of fine material between the gate and the lower end of stationary chute, since any escape or leak of fine material is always caught into the receptacle of the pivoted chute as the rear end of the receptacle at all times of its movement is disposed rearwardly or back of the lower end of the stationary chute bottom.

A still further object of the invention residesin the arrangement of the receptacle of the pivoted chute whereby the receptacle becomes partly or fully loaded with the surcharge material upon the ascent of the load od bucket and simultaneous downward movement of the pivoted chute so that the receptacle acts as a positive counterweight to retain the hooded extension in raised position out of the path of the bucket.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of the parts and members shown in preferred embodiment in the attached drawings, described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts in broken lines to show details, of a skip hoist bucket loader showing a preferred embodiment of my invention and showing the loader in loading position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the loader in closed position with the bucket near its lowermost position about to engage and move the loader into loading position. Or if we assume the bucket as already loaded, the bucket is shown on its upward travel.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing details of construction of the gate operating mechanism and coacting pivoted chute.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the pivoted chute operating hook in side elevation.

In the illustrations, 10 indicates concrete pit walls and 11 a hopper adapted to receive granular material such as coal, sand, gravel, or the like. The hopper 11 is designed to permit a gravitational flow of the material into a stationary chute 12.

The chute 12 which is of sheet metal construction consists generally of a bottom 12 side plat-es 12 and cover plates 12 and 12 extending over the top thereof. The cover plates 12 and 12 are spaced a short distance apart to provide for the gate 13 which is slidable substantially up and down between angle guides 14 and M As here shown, the gate 13 is adapted to rest upon the chute bot-- tom 12 but it is obvious that the lower end of the bottom could be slightly shortened to permit the gate 13 to extend slightly beyond the chute bottom plate 12*. Gate 13 may be straight as shown or may be curved to an arc whereupon guides M and 14: would be likewise curved.

The gate 13 is preferably provided with a pair of tooth racks 15 which are secured rigidly to the outer face of the gate 13 and are adapted to mesh with a pair of pinions 16 which are rigidly mounted upon the shaft 17 between the shaft bearings 18 which are car- 7 ried at the outer ends of the arms 19. The inner ends of the arms 19 are secured through spacing channels 20 to the chute sides 12?.

The outer ends of the shaft 17 have keyed, or otherwise secured thereto, sprockets 21 which are adapted to be turned by sprocket chains 22. Suitable plate guards 23 are secured to the outer end of arms 19 to posi-' tively keep the sprocket chains 22 trained on said sprockets 321. The upper ends of the sprocket chains may be extended with a rope or cable 22 which pass over the sheaves2l and are connected to suitable counterweights 25. i 1

The lower ends of the sprocket chains 22 are pivotally secured to the pins 26 within the sides of the receptacle side plates 28 A pair of angle guards 27 may be riveted to the inner face of the side plates 28 to guard V the chains 22 from contact with the outwardly moving inaterialas it passes from the chute 12.

ment 28% which is formed between the rear wall 28 side walls 28 front wall 28 and bottom plate 28.

bridges the space between the chute 12 and hoisting bucket 30, and is preferablyformed with a bent extended lip 28 "The side walls 28 are extended to form a .hood'with the cross plate or wall 28 The therein from the chute 28 during its movement into closing positionupon the elevatmg of the bucket. Likewise, the lower end of the cover plate 12 controls the flow of the material to the wall 28 and prevents any spill over its upper edge. 7

The chute 28 is pivotally supported'upon a shaft which is disposed rearwardly of the discharge end of the chute bottom 12*, and

held in bearings 29 mounted to the bottom of the chute 12. 7 It is important 'to note here that the chamber or compartment 28 is always positioned to receive any dribble or leak of fine material from the chute 12 and that any such fine material will be discharged The front wall plate 28 is extended to form a bridge element which into the bucket upon loading thereof, thus eliminating the necessity of cleaning the pit as is common with most skip bucket loaders.

A pair of angles 28 mounted to the innerside of the side plates 28 act'to engage the stops 32 which are supported from the chute bottom plate 12 to retain the recepacle chute 28 when in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The movement of the chute 28 into loading position is controlled by the downward movement of the bucket 30 or more specifically,

by the engagement of the bucket angle 30 within the hooked ends 31 of the hooks 31 which are freely or 'pivotally suspended from the pins 33 secured to the outside of the receptacle side plates 28 The hooks 31 are maintained in parallel alignment by a cross bar 31 Any suitable type of skip bucket may be employed with the loader herein described and shown. v I have shown the bucket 30 provided with a bail .30 which is pivoted to the bottom of the bucket; The bucket wheels 30 run in guides or rails 30 from the pit to the dumping point above. The bail 30 is here shown provided with guide wheels 30? and a hoisting cable 30 In its descent into loading position, as shownin 2, the bucket 30 will engage the freely hanging hook 31, and in its continued downward movement will by its pull on the hook 31 cause a movement of the chute 28 about itspivot 29 into loading position, as

r shown in Fig. 1, so that the hooded extension The chute 28 is provided with a compartof the chute extends over the wearing strips 30 of bucket with the hood thereof into the bucket opening.

During the tilting of the chute 28 by the bucket 30, the chains 22 will cause a rotation of the sprockets 21 and shaft 17 together 3 with the pinions 16 to move the racks 15 and gate 13 upwardly into open position.

The material will now have an open way to flow by gravity from the hopper 11 through chute 12 and over the extension of the chute 28 into the bucket 30. hen the bucket is charged the material will come to rest.

Assuming now that the bucket is charged, as shown in Fig. 1, the hoisting apparatus will exert a pull upon the hoisting cable .30 toraise the bucket.

In its upward movement, the bucket 30 will engage the front plate 28 'with the wearing strips 3O and will cause an upward movement of the chute 28.

In its upward movement,the chute 28 with its'lip 'exten sion 28 will describe a scooping motion to scoop up any surcharge of material lying within the end of the chute 28 to deposit such scooped material into the chamber 28 and the weight of such material deposited into the chamber 28 together with the weight of the housing of such cham-- her will counterweight the remaining portion of the chute 28 to bring the same into closed position with the angles28 thereof engag V will be free to move downwardly, pulling the chain 22 and reversedly rotating the sprockets 21 and shaft 17 with the pinions 16 causing a downward movement of the racks 1.5 with the gate 13 into closed position.

I claim 1. In material handling apparatus, and in combination, a material hop-per, a discharge chute for said hopper, a gate for said chute, a pivotally mounted element, said element being a separate unit from said gate, a hoisting bucket, means operable by said hoisting bucket for moving said element into dis charge position upon the descent of the bucket into loading position whereby said element will be caused to assume a position to bridge the space between said chute and the mouth of said bucket, and means interconnecting said element and said gate adapted upon the movement of said element into discharge position to open said gate to permit the material to flow by gravity from said chute over said element into said bucket, means on said bucket adapted to contact said element and move said element out of its path of travel upon its ascent, and gravity means operatively connected with said interconnecting means between said element and said gate adapted to close said gate upon the movement of said element out of discharge position by the ascending bucket. I

2. In material handling apparatus, and in combination, a material hopper, a discharge chute for said hopper, a gate for said chute, a pivotally mounted element, said element being a separate unit from said gate, a hoisting bucket, means operable by said hoisting bucket for tilting said element into discharge position upon the descent of the bucket into loadin position whereby said element will be caused to assume a position to bridge the space between said chute and the mouth of said bucket, and means interconnecting said element and said gate adapted upon the tilting of said element into discharge position to open said gate to permit the material to flow by gravity from said chute over said element into said bucket, means associated with said bucket adapted to engage said ele mentand move said element out of its path of travel upon its ascent, and a counterweight operatively connected with said interconnecting means between said element and said gate adapted to close said gate upon the movement of said element out of discharge position by the ascending bucket.

3. In material handling apparatus, and in combination, a material hopper, a discharge chute for said hopper, a slidable plate gate for said chute, a pivotally mounted element, said element being a separate unit from said gate, a hoisting bucket, means operable by said hoisting bucket for moving said element into discharge position upon the descent of the bucket into loading position whereby said element will be caused to assume a position to bridge the space between said chute and the mouth of said bucket, and means interconnecting said element and said gate adapted upon the movement of said element into discharge position to open said gate to permit the material to flow by gravity from said chute over said element into said bucket means associated with said bucket adapted to engage said element and move said element out of its path of travel upon its ascent, and a counterweight operatively connected with said interconnecting means between said element and said gate adapted to close said gate upon the movement of said element out of discharge position by the as cending bucket.

4. Material handling apparatus as embodied in claim 3, wherein said means interconnecting said element and said gate cornprises a rack mounted on said gate, a shaft having a pinion in mesh with said rack, a sprocket wheel ri idly mounted on said shaft, a sprocket c ain for operating said sprocket wheel, and a counterweight connected to one end of said chain, the other end of said chain being connected to said element.

5. Material handling apparatus as embodied in claim 2, wherein said means interconnecting said element and said gate comprises a shaft, rack and pinion means operable by said shaft foropening and closing said gate, and flexible connection means con necting said element with said shaft for alternately rotating said shaft responsive to the movements of said element.

6. In material handling apparatus, and in combination, a hoisting bucket, a material discharge chute, a gate for said chute operative at the lower end of the bottom of said chute, said chute'having the sides thereof extending beyond the lower end of the bottom of said chute, said chute having a cover plate between said sides and extending from the upper ends of said sides to the lower ends of said sides, said cover plate having an opening therein for said gate, a second chute pivotally mounted below said material discharge ohute and normally positioned outside of the path of travel of said bucket, said second chute having a compartment adapted to contain a quantity of material and having a wall of said compartment forming an extension, said extension having sides and a cross plate between said sides forming a hood over the end of said extension, means operable by the bucket in its descent into loading position for tilting said second chute to cause its hooded extension to protrude over the mouth of said bucket so that said extension forms a bridge for'thematerial from said dischar e chute to said bucket and means g 7 responsive to the tilting ofisaid second chute for opening said gate during the tilting of '3 said second chute to permit the gravity discharge of material from said discharge chute,

any leakage of fine material which may escape below said gate when said second chute is in normal raised position. 1

8. In material handling apparatus, and in combination, a stationary material discharge chute, a gate to control the discharge of material from said discharge chute, and a second chute pivotally mounted and adapted to be tilted to forman extension for the flow of material from said stationary discharge chute when said gate is in open position, said second chute having a compartment therein extending normally below its pivotal point adapted to receive any leakage of fine mabucket inits descent into loading position for tilting said second chute into discharge position, acpair of racks rigid with said gate plate, a shaft, a pair of pinions mounted on said shaft andin mesh with said racks, a pair of sprocket wheels on said shaft, a pair of sprocket chains for operating said sprocket wheels to turn said shaftand pinions to raise and lower said racks and gate, and a pair of counterweights for the ends of said chains, said chains being connected at one end to said second chute and movable thereby when the second chute is tilted into loading position by the bucket, said counterweights being adapted to move said chains in the opposite direction when said second chute is moved to raised position.

In witness whereof I affix my signature.

WVILLIAM E. HALE.

terial which may escape from the lower end K of said discharge chute when said second chute is in normal raised position, said second chute being a separate unit from said gate and being arranged to discharge such fine material from said compartment upon the tilting thereof into discharge position.

9; Material handling apparatus, as embodied in claim 8, and including a hoisting bucket, 'means pivotally connected to said second chute and engageable by said bucket in its descent into loading position adapted to tilt said second chute, means interconnecting said second chute with said gate whereby said I gate is opened during the tilting. of said sec- 0nd chute by said bucket to permitthe gravity flow of material from said stationary discharge chute into said second chute and thence vinto said hoisting bucket, means on said bucket for engaging said second chute for raising said second chute into closed position upon the elevating of said hoisting bucket, and a counterweight connected with said interconnecting means operable to close said gate for said stationary discharge chute upon a the raising of said second chute.

10. Material handling apparatus'a's em Y bodied in claim 8, wherein said gate comprismg a slidable plate,vand including a hoist- 1ng bucket,'means connected to said second chute and adapted to be engaged by "said" 

